YC growth framework - identify One Metric That Matters, commit to 7% weekly growth, install public accountability. Focus-forcing system for early-stage startups.
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Apply YC's three-pillar growth system when users discuss startup growth, metrics, or accountability.
Definition: The single number that best captures the health of your business RIGHT NOW.
Selection Criteria:
OMTM by Stage:
| Stage | Typical OMTM | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-launch | Waitlist signups | Demand validation |
| Pre-revenue | Active users | Engagement before monetization |
| Early revenue | Weekly revenue | Direct business health |
| Product-market fit | Net revenue retention | Sustainable growth signal |
| Growth | MRR growth rate | Scalability proof |
OMTM by Business Type:
| Business | OMTM | NOT This |
|---|---|---|
| SaaS | Weekly active users OR MRR | Total signups |
| Marketplace | Weekly GMV | Registered users |
| E-commerce | Weekly revenue | Traffic |
| Content | Weekly engaged readers | Pageviews |
| B2B Services | Pipeline value | Proposals sent |
OMTM Anti-Patterns:
The Math:
7% weekly = 1.07^52 = 33x annual growth
5% weekly = 1.05^52 = 12x annual growth
10% weekly = 1.10^52 = 142x annual growth
Why 7%:
Weekly Growth Calculation:
Growth Rate = (This Week - Last Week) / Last Week × 100
Example:
Last week: 100 users
This week: 107 users
Growth: (107-100)/100 = 7%
Tracking Template:
| Week | OMTM Value | Growth % | Cumulative | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 100 | - | 100 | Baseline |
| 2 | 107 | 7% | 107 | [What drove it] |
| 3 | 114 | 6.5% | 114 | [What drove it] |
When You Miss 7%:
Why Public:
Accountability Mechanisms:
| Method | Effort | Pressure | Audience |
|---|---|---|---|
| Twitter/X updates | Low | Medium | Public |
| Investor updates | Medium | High | Investors |
| Mastermind group | Medium | High | Peers |
| Public dashboard | High | Very High | Everyone |
| Blog posts | High | Medium | Followers |
Weekly Update Template:
Week [X] Update:
OMTM: [Metric Name]
Last Week: [Value]
This Week: [Value]
Growth: [X]%
What worked:
- [Specific action → result]
What didn't:
- [Specific action → result]
Next week focus:
- [Specific action with expected impact]
Accountability Partner Selection:
| User Says | Red Flag | Response |
|---|---|---|
| "We track DAU, MAU, revenue, NPS..." | No focus | Help identify THE one |
| "We're growing 2% monthly" | Too slow | Reframe to weekly, increase ambition |
| "I review metrics quarterly" | Too infrequent | Suggest weekly rhythm |
| "Nobody knows our numbers" | No accountability | Suggest public sharing |
"7% weekly is unrealistic" → "What's your current weekly growth? Even 5% = 12x annual. The number matters less than the weekly discipline."
"We can't share numbers publicly" → "Share with one accountability partner. The point is external pressure, not public disclosure."
"Our business doesn't work that way" → "Every business has a leading indicator. What number, if it went up, would guarantee future success?"
growth-audit for comprehensive assessmentfirst-principles to identify true OMTMfounder-mode for execution disciplineidea-validator for post-validation tracking